Bill of Rights, Dissertation – Discussion Example

Choosing the most important amendment was a no-brainer for me. In fact, I believe the 1^st Amendment has played a greater role than all of the other nine amendments combined in shaping who the U.S. is today. The 1^st Amendment guarantees freedom of speech to everyone including the freedom to choose religion and separates government from the church. This amendment is the reason minority religious groups have historically enjoyed equal rights and do not face persecution as is the case in countries where dominant religion becomes a major political force. This is also the reason why we don’t have conflicts between religious groups that affect other areas of the world including the Middle East and the South East Asia. One cannot begin to even imagine the social and economic costs such religious conflicts would impose on the country as they often extend over decades. The 1^st Amendment is also the reason U.S. attracts more international talent than any other country because everyone feels at home here and the resulting diversity has played a huge role in establishing U.S. dominance in several industries including science and technology.

The 1^st Amendment is also the reason why democracy has survived in the U.S. and there has never been a serious threat of dictator regimes. The freedom of speech empowers people and the press to hold government accountable which results in more efficient political system. Similarly, the absence of censorship also means people are free to pursue new ideas and the resulting innovation helps U.S. maintain its economic leadership. When I look at the social and economic record of countries where religions are dominant political force, I can’t help but marvel at the wisdom of our founding fathers.